Multi-Storey Warehouse Robot Control for Cross-Layer Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated warehousing systems, particularly three-dimensional shuttle vehicles, face challenges with high construction costs, complex maintenance, and safety issues due to stringent requirements for shelf precision and flatness, as well as difficulties in flexible allocation and container cross-layer transportation.
Innovation Solution
A robot control system comprising a storage region with a loft having multiple storeys, a lifting machine, and self-driven robots that can move through passages on each floor, where a control device assigns transportation tasks and plans routes for the robots to transport containers between storeys, eliminating the need for shuttle tracks and enhancing flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If three-dimensional shuttle vehicle scheme is used, then automated picking in three-dimensional space is achieved, but construction cost increases and maintenance becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the automated picking function into two independent parts: (1) a lifting machine that handles vertical transportation between storeys, and (2) ordinary loft shelves that provide storage. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex three-dimensional shuttle vehicles while maintaining automated picking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting machine serves multiple functions: it transports containers between storeys, supports the robot base, and enables the robot to access containers on different floors. This multi-functionality replaces the specialized three-dimensional shuttle vehicle system.
2Extent of automation
If three-dimensional shuttle vehicle is used, then container cross-layer transportation is achieved, but flexibility decreases and allocation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic robot base that can move freely on each storey combined with a lifting machine for vertical transport. This dynamic configuration allows flexible allocation and adaptation to different picking scenarios, unlike the fixed three-dimensional shuttle vehicle tracks.
3Extent of automation
If three-dimensional shuttle vehicle scheme is used, then automated picking is achieved, but ground flatness and subsidence requirements increase construction cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive precision-engineered three-dimensional shuttle vehicle tracks with ordinary loft shelves and a lifting machine that have much lower ground installation requirements. This substitution dramatically reduces construction costs while maintaining automated picking functionality.
4Extent of automation
If three-dimensional shuttle vehicle is used, then container transportation between storeys is achieved, but safety risks increase due to inability to perform manual operations during failure
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting machine acts as an intermediary that can be manually operated or controlled to transport containers between storeys. This provides a safety mechanism where manual intervention is possible during system failures, unlike the enclosed three-dimensional shuttle vehicle tracks.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot control system and method. The robot control system includes a storage region, a lifting machine, a control device, and at least one self-driven robot. The storage region includes a loft having at least two storeys and is configured to store a container, and there is provided a passage on the floor of each of the at least two storeys of the loft for the self-driven robot to move through. The lifting machine is configured to transport the self-driven robot or the container to a target storey corresponding to a transportation task. The control device is configured to assign the transportation task to the self-driven robot and plan a travel route on the target storey for the self-driven robot according to the transportation task, and dispatch the self-driven robot to travel according to the travel route to perform the transportation task.